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Communicate in paragraphs rather than sentences

Stuart333

I saw this mentioned online a while ago, but it seems to be true. It seems to be a common trait.

I've always tended to provide lengthy and complete answers to questions unless I stop myself.

Over the years at work I have been trying to make communications more succinct. People don't tend to appreciate the detail, explanation and background surrounding a point. Although it is often needed. The details are what matters to avoid problems later.

I never understood twitter when it originally had a 160 character limit. How could you say something useful in so few words.

I've noticed quite a few posts here are also fuller. This is not a criticism, just an observation that illustrates the point.

I don't mind it, in fact I like it. I always thought it showed you had something to say and had thought about it.

  • in reply to Bunny

    Those two points are absolutely, 100%, me! 

  • I like closely following Gricean maxims. Sometimes a compromise is due, though. It's hard to be maximally clear without being a little bit more verbose, at least in my case.

  • Generally I wouldn’t say that’s me, I try to keep things as brief as possible if I can. Especially verbal communication as I feel under scrutiny the whole time. Sometimes I struggle to really articulate or give context if I am uncomfortable which is in most social situations. Far better with written stuff most of the time. Although fading eye sight and the auto correct function don’t help!

  • in reply to Martin

    I love words, you can convey so many layers of meaning with the right word, the only trouble is I get told off because people don't understand what I'm talking about or can't be bothered to read what I write, or listen to me for that matter.

    This whole grammar thing still confuses me, when to use full stops to make a sentence complete, when to start a new paragraph. It's even harder as I tend towards loquacity and have to reign myself in. It's also hard when you have an audience with mixed abilities or how to judge what your audience already knows?

  • Whilst some users here certainly tend to post longer / wordier replies than others, using paragraphs rather than sentences (ie using more words rather than fewer) isn't recognised as a universal autistic trait.

    According to the NAS, available evidence instead supports a tendency to the opposite:

    "Evidence suggests that, in comparison to non-autistic people, autistic people might:

    • Use more direct language, or less unnecessary or ambiguous language (sometimes interpreted as being ‘blunt’)
    • Use more formal, precise and technical speech"

    NAS - Autism and communication

  • Many decades of writing scientific reports, papers and book chapters have made me very concise on the page. However, I still delight in slipping unusual words in, if they are cogent, where I can. I put the word 'involute' into one paper and was inordinately pleased with myself. The last two sentences are examples. Ha, Ha!Grin